Professor Griff Talks New Album, Performing With The Roots
April 17th, 2009 | Author: Jake Paine
Public Enemy member Professor Griff is a busy man as of late. The Long Island-born emcee and activist is preparing his latest album, with band 7th Octave, titled A God Damage. The work is the latest in a discography for Griff, who, outside of P.E., has been releasing material dating back to 1990's Pawns In The Game. "The first one was real a real heavy, Metal-like Rock sort of thing. It was a fusion. This one's gonna be a lot more funkier [sic]," Griff said to HipHopDX Tuesday of the progression between 2004's The Se7enth Degree, released on P.E. partner Chuck D's Slam Jamz imprint.
"It's not really a change of direction. When you talk about changing directions, you're talking about driving to the west coast, then turning around and going North. [Laughs] I'm not changing directions; I'm bringing out certain flavors that were already there, because the formula that we use was Funk - we pride ourselves on the old Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown [sound]. That, of course, was the formula that Hip Hop borrowed from, in its breakbeats and that kind of thing," he explained. "This time, we're gonna blend it a lot better, and bring out the funkier aspects of it. As we performed, we saw less women [laughing], and we want people to vibe to it. The main ingredients will appeal to women."
With songs like the thematic "Why You Want To Kill God?" already recorded, Griff says he's hurrying to finish the album, without compromising quality. "Me and a brother of mine from Uniondale, New York, Society, who's been with me since my first solo album as a writer, we're writing like every other day," said Griff. "I don't just want to put songs on the album. I want to do something very conceptual - even the title of the album, A God Damage, I don't define it. People hear it and ask me what it means. You tell me. That's what it means, whatever it means to you. I'm tryin' to be artistic with it, bro."
Outside of music, Professor Griff is also very involved in the Black History 101 Mobile Museum [click to read]. With museum touring season upon us, Griff stated, "I would really like to take it a lot deeper, man, and start talking about some of those black, historical facts, that we don't get a chance to talk about in the classroom and in the lecture hall and over the dinner table in black homes. The only way other races and cultures are going to appreciate it, is if we, black people, bring it to the damn table." Specifically, Griff is hoping to educate this season's visitors on the creation of Rock music, with an emphasis on black women Rock pioneers, as well as teachings on the black role colonial America and education initiatives.
On June 6, Public Enemy will join The Roots [click to read] at their annual picnic in Philadelphia [click to read], to perform the seminal 1988 album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, an album that Professor Griff worked on. Excited about the concert, he said, "From a historical perspective, performing and doing [It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back] with The Roots is going to be monumental to me personally. [This is] in line with what other groups have come together and done. Hip Hop needs to do that at this particular time, and I'm sure you will agree with me. We can [talk] for an hour on all the reasons why Hip Hop needs to do it. [Laughs] For The Roots, who have maintained the whole concept of a live band, to do it with a Public Enemy, is very, very, very important." There may be a deeper message here too. "We need to show young kids, we need to show Hip Hop heads that yes, you have to perfect your art - and yes, you can be a musician and be in the game. You don't only have to be an emcee, deejay or producer. Yes, you can play the flute, trombone, percussion, whatever you do. Then, as a group - I want to see groups again, man! I want that whole concept of people working together, and to be in harmony, to be in sync, and to be on time...we need that."
The concert was announced shortly after a latenight network performance, which affected Griff's own contemporary music. "When we, Public Enemy and The Roots, performed 'Bring Tha Noize' on The Jimmy Fallon Show, man, it brought chills! Whew! If you pick apart what each instrument is doing, it's like 'Damn!' It made me go back to the drawing board with The 7th Octave, like, 'Man, we need to do that! A cover or somethin'!'"
This event may be historical to Hip Hop, and to the 20-plus Hip Hop veteran that's made history books. "I told Chuck, I just want to open up and do a couple songs. I want to be a part of the whole experience, so when we look back, and read the history, we can [all] look back and say, 'Damn, I was there!'"
A God Damage is intended for summer release.
Professor Griff to Keynote Freedom Legacy Film Festival
Local filmmakers Doug Ruffin Jr. Karima Amin, Peaze, Kameron Wood, and Andrew Mitchell will be featured.
Date: March 17, 2008 3:10 PM
Reprinted From The Buffalo Challenger Newspaper
Professor Griff Will Keynote the Morningstar Promotion's "Freedom Legacy Film Festival", Friday and Saturday March 21 and 22 at the Screening room in Northtown Plaza, 3131 Sheridan Drive from 6-10 p.m.
The Following idependent film-makers from the Buffalo area will be featured: Doug Ruffin, Jr. and Karima Amin, ("Prisoners are People Too"), Kameron Wood ("The Waterfront: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"), Peaze ("Ask God First Edutainment - Scarface for Life"), and Andrew Mitchell.
National speaker, community activist and one of the founding fathers of Public Enemy, Professor Griff and Steven Muhammad will be the guest speakers. This will be a weekend of entertainment, edutainment and change. On Saturday March 22 Professor Griff will conduct a session on "Hidden Messages In Movies."
The cost is $8 for the weekend and refreshments will be available for purchase. There also, will be give-aways throughout the weekend. Morningstar Promotions is part of the emergency response system that is needed for the high illiteracy rate, crime and negative images that runs rapid through our communities.
Sonseare Taggart, a concerned mother of four and many others who call her "Mom", realized the negative images that bombarded the youth around her daily. These images had a profound effect on the actions, speech and overall living of the children she mentored everyday. Taking action and analyzing what makes the youth thrive, she put together a promotional company that uplifts the youth and their talents.
Part of Morningstar Promotions is the Youth Authors and Poets divisions where children learn to write transcripts, learn to be self published, and learn about copywriting and marketing.
For more information about MorningStar Promotions contact: Sonseare at (716) 605-8681
Professor Griff of Public Enemy was recently interviewed by Buffalo's Newspaper The Artvoice.
Cover Story
Unity Force
by Geoff Kelly
For Full Story Go To: The ArtVoice
http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n11/unity_force or:
Public Enemy’s Professor Griff comes to Buffalo next week to lecture at the Freedom Legacy Film Festival
It’s been a cruel winter for Professor Griff: Last month a gas leak caused his house and studio in Atlanta to burn down. He and his family lost everything—clothes and valuables, book and record collections, lectures, studio equipment, the artifacts and memorabilia collected over the course of a career that reaches back more than 20 years.
Griff’s most famous role in that long career is Minister of Communications for Public Enemy, the pioneering hip-hop
revolutionaries fronted by his childhood friend, Chuck D. But Griff (born Richard Griffin) has made his own name in the world as well, separate from but always in pursuit of the same agenda that drove Public Enemy: empowering black people, countering media dissembling, fighting the powers that be.
Griff comes to town next Friday and Saturday to deliver a lecture and screen the documentary he helped to make last year, Turn Off Channel Zero, which deals with the
African-American stereotypes that populate the dominant American media. The film is part of Morningstar Promotion’s Freedom Film Festival, which takes place March 21 & 22 at the Screening Room (in the Northtown Plaza, 3131 Sheridan Drive). Other
filmmakers include Doug Ruffin, Jr. and Karima Amin of Prisoners Are People Too, Kameran Woods and Andrew P. Mitchell. (The program runs 6-10pm both days, and Griff’s lecture is on Saturday evening.
Turn Off Channel Zero Premiers in Buffalo
Professor Griff heads panel concerned with negative images in Hip-Hop
On Saturday September 22nd 2007, Morning Star Promotions joined forces with another phenomenal organization: Inspired Citizens of Buffalo (ICB) for the very first Morningstar Promotions independent film viewing. Professor Griff of Public Enemy was the invited guest and Keynote Speaker.
The Activist Film Turn Off Channel Zero was premiered. The Turn Off Channel Zero Movement is a joint effort of concerned activists, filmmakers, artists and media personalities who have come together to address Viacom’s negative portrayals of African-Americans. Their film takes specific aim at VH1, MTV and BET – all owned by Viacom. This film reaches deep into the black community and onto the front yard (literally) of one of the most powerful media moguls in the world - CBS and Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone.
Along with the viewing of this film, Morningstar Promotions collaborated that weekend to help promote for ICB’s Annual Awards Ceremony which was held that Sunday September 23rd, 2007.
Tavis Smiley interviews members of one of hip hop's greatest groups. Public Enemy's Chuck D and Professor Griff discuss the group's 20 years in the music business, the power of their music over the long haul and their new CD.
Professor Griff has long been an outspoken activist. Raised in Long Island, NY, he became a martial arts enthusiast and
provided martial training for young people. He went on to form a security service, which led to his role as Minister of
Information for the revolutionary hip-hop group, Public Enemy, which is celebrating its 20th year on the rap scene. Griff
has also released a number of solo albums and supports a variety of programs, including Feed the People in the Atlanta, GA
area, where he now lives.
Chuck D is the founder of Public Enemy, considered a pioneer of politically conscious rap music. The group is celebrating
its 20th anniversary with a new CD. An outspoken advocate of music on the Web, Chuck D delivers his message through various
mediums. He launched the multi-format 'supersite' Rapstation, has hosted Air America Radio shows and narrated a short film
explaining the impact of conflict diamonds on Africa. He also frequently appears as a guest lecturer at colleges across the
country./p>
Excerpts From The Interview
Tavis: Go back to the beginning - "It Takes a Nation of Millions."
Chuck D: It takes a nation of millions to hold us back is actually a line from the first record, a song called
"Raise the Roof." And it was something I saw in print when I described that song, and it was in Toronto. And Hank Shockley
said, "Hey, I think that could be the name of the title of the album," and that's what it is. It was twofold - it could take
a nation of millions to hold us back as adversaries, or it takes a nation of millions of us to hold ourselves back.
And I think where we're at in 007, which is 2007, is really when we go around the world; it's easy to recognize forces at
work here against us. Dead Prez comes up with a campaign against corporations, it's turn off the radio. Professor Griff has
"Turn Off Channel Zero". And he can explain that. There's a lot of things manipulating Black people's imagery right about
now that we always have to be the anti-force at work, to work against that. Not to say that we're going to change and flip
things overnight, but if you lie down you'll fall for anything.
Tavis:"Turn Off Channel Zero", since Chuck went there, is what, Griff?
Griff: It's a project that me and about 20 to 25 activists across the country put together a documentary film dealing with
the negative images in the media. And we just put it out free to give it to organizations and groups and teachers and
preachers and leaders to have discussions about it, to raise the consciousness level of the people.
Tavis: Since you're on that, tell me what PE's role has been over the 20 years, vis-à-vis the music, in trying to address
this issue of Black images in media.
Griff: I think bottom line it could be said best - probably not best, but from my perspective, we've become the voice of the
voiceless in areas where a lot of people just won't go. We pride ourselves in reaching (unintelligible) and Peanut in the
projects, and Re-Re. (Laughter) So being the - a lot of people labeled us because of the song "The Prophets of Rage," but
that's another subject. But we became the voice of the voiceless.
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